Alarm signal system



P 13, 1943- J. H. WHEELOCK ETAL 5 ALARM SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed Nov. '7,1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l \SUPERVISORY L l JSPRING MOTO R l I \7 I5 25 a. l

THERMAL OPERATOR IN VENTORS J H WHEELOCK. Huao E CYESER ATTORNEY P 1943-J. H. WHEELOCK EIAL 2,316,639

ALARM SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed NOV. 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SPRING MOTORINVENTORS J'oH/v H. WHEELO K.

Huao E CYP6EF= ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 13, 1943 ALARM SIGNAL SYSTEIVIJohn H. Wheelock, Fitzwilliam, N, H., and Hugo F. Cypser, New York, N.Y., assignors to Signal Engineering & Manufacturing Company, New York,N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 7, 1941,Serial No. 418,116

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to alarm signal systems, particularly firealarm systems employing a number of bells or other signals adapted to besounded or otherwise operated in response to the actuation of any one ofa number of separate alarm sending stations, such alarm systems beingcommonly installed in schools, factories, hotels and other largebuildings.

In Wheelock Patent No. 2,238,144, issued April 15, 1941, there is shownand described an alarm signal system of the above indicated character,in which the actuation of a sending station is adapted to operate thesignals through a number of code sequences determined by the designationof the actuated station. While generally speaking, the signals cease tooperate on a code basis after the station has run down, the aforesaidpatent also discloses manually operable means at each station forcausing operation of the signals on a continuous non-code basis, throughfunctioning of an impulse transmitting device adapted to be energizedindependently of the station mechanisms.

The present invention relates particularly to a modification of thecircuit shown in the aforesaid patent, wherein initial actuation of anysending station automatically closes contacts which have the efiect ofshunting out the resistor that normally restricts the current traversingthe master controller of the system to a supervisory level. Thereafter,successive opening and closing of the coding contacts of the actuatedstation will serve to transmit a predetermined number of rounds of codesequences, followed by almost immediate functioning of the impulsetransmitting device to operate the signals on a continuous basis,irrespective of the fact that the operating mechanism of the actuatedstation has run down. A further feature of the invention resides in thefact that full power is applied to the winding of the master controllerand the several signal circuits under the control thereof, independentlyof the impulse transmitting device, which does not function in governingthe flow of current through the controller winding until after theactuated station has run down and its coding contacts remain closed. Theabove and other advantageous features of the invention will hereinaftermore fully appear from the following description, considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view, illustrating the system in its normalnon-operating condition, with continuous electrical supervision of itsvarious circuits.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the sendingof a code impulse of an alarm in response to actuation of one of thesending stations.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view, illustrating the transmission of signals ona continuous non-code basis through functioning of the impulsetransmitting device.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, illustrating the construction of a sendingstation.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the signals 1 which are adapted to be soundedor otherwise electrically operated for giving an alarm, are shown, forpurposes of illustration, as being of the single stroke solenoid type,with each providing an operating winding 2 within which moves a magneticstriker 2a.. The windings 2 of the signals l are adapted to be connectedin sections across supply mains 3 and 4, with balancing resistors 5between the sections, by means of a number of sets of relatively movablecontacts 6 and 1 forming part of a master controller, generallydesignated by the reference character A.

The controller A comprises a winding 8, with a main armature 9 movablein response to energization of the winding to close the several sets ofcontacts 6 and 1. Normally, the contacts 6 and 1 are open inthe-position of Fig. 1, even though the winding 8 be traversed by asupervisory current of low amperage, as will hereinafter appear, withfull energization of the winding 8 serving to pull in the armature 9 andclose the contacts 6 and 1.

The winding 8 of the controller A has one terminal thereof connected tothe supply main 4, while the other terminal thereof is connected inseries with a number of alarm sending stations S disposed in variouslocations throughout the system. Each sending station S provides a pairof normally closed coding contacts Ii), and these contacts are adaptedto be intermittently opened and closed, in accordance with thearrangement of projections Ila on a code wheel l-If Upon actuation of astation S, the code wheel I] is adapted to be turned through apredetermined number of revolutions by a spring motor I2 of any desiredtype, such as is usually employed in fire alarm sending stations.

The closed contacts I 9 of the severalstations S are connected in serieswith each other and with a controlling resistor l3 by station conductor.A conductor 15 passes through all of the t o s, and the conductors l4and 1.5111

each station are adapted to be connected together by a short circuitingswitch I6. Normally, the contacts of the switch l6 are open, althougheach switch It is adapted to be closed immediately in response to theactuation of its station, as will later appear.

The several stations S are connected by a 10011- ductor I! to thenormally closed contacts I8 of an automatic circuit interrupter IQ ofthe type shown in Hanel Patent No. 1,968,500, issued July 26, 1932. Theinterrupter i9 is shown diagrammatically as consisting of a pivoted arm2!) carrying one contact i8, and connected to the free end of a thermalelement 2 l, with the initial tension of the element 2! maintaining thecontact 18 on the arm 28 in engagement with the stationary contact is.Upon the passage of a predetermined current through the thermal element2|, its heating and expansion permits a spring 26a to turn the arm 20about its pivot to disengage the contacts l8, whereupon current nolonger flows through the element 2L The resulting cooling andcontraction of the element 2! thereupon causes the arm 29 to reengagethe contacts I8, and this cycle is repeated to cause the interrupter tomake and break the circuit of the element 2! so long as sufficientcurrent flows through the element to cause its heating and expansion.The fixed end of the thermal element 2! is connected in series with thesignal windings 2 and balancing resistors 5 to a current limitingresistor 22, that is in turn connected to the other supply main 3.Normally, a small supervisory current traverses the parts of the systemdescribed thus far, as follows:

Beginning at the supply main 3, the supervisory current flows throughresistor 22, signal windings 2 and through the thermal element 2i andnormally closed contacts I8 of the interrupter l9. stations through theconductor l5 and the controlling resistor [3, after which it flowsthrough the coding contacts It] to the controller winding 8 and othersupply main 4. The value of this supervisory current is so low as tohave no effect on the main armature 9, although it is sufficient to holdin an auxiliary armature 23, which serves to keep closed a pair ofcontacts 24, forming part of a control circuit for fault-indicatingsignals, such as are shown and described in the aforesaid WheelockPatent No. 2,238,144. Therefore, all parts of the system are in acondition of supervision, ready to indicate the occurrence of a fault,or to transmit a number of rounds of code impulses in response toactuation of a station S, automatically followed by the continuoustransmission of impulses on a non-code basis, as will next be described.Upon actuation of a station S, initial turning of the code wheel H bythe spring motor l2 causes the coding contacts Ill of the station to beopened, as one contact I!) rides up on the first code projection Ha.Immediately following opening of the contacts Iii, the switch 16 isclosed by the action of a suitable cam 25, turnable with the code wheeland operating through a lever 26, see Fig. 4. The switch l6 remainsclosed throughout the operation of the station, and after the stationhas run down, the switch It can be opened only by means of a manuallyoperated reset key, hereinafter described.

The particular mechanism for closing the switch 16 and maintaining it inits closed position forms no part of the present invention, although anillustrative embodiment of one way in which The current then traversesthe several the switch can be so controlled is shown in Fig. 4. In thisarrangement, the cam 25 consists of a ring having a gap at 25a, withinwhich a stud 2'! on the lever is disposed in the normal nonoperatingcondition of the station mechanism. Upon turning of the code wheel, aninclined surface of the stud 2! is engaged by a bevelled edge at oneside of the gap, to cause the stud to ride up outside the ring to closethe contacts 16. Since these contacts [6 are in the form of a knifeswitch, as shown, the lever 25 will remain in its raised position, evenafter the station has run down, with the stud 2'! remaining in alinementwith the gap 25a. In order to open the contacts IE, it is necessary todepress the free end of the lever 26, as by means of a roller 28 carriedat the end of an arm 29 pivotally mounted at 30, and adapted to beturned by a reset key. The construction and functioning of the parts ofthe station mechanism described above are more fully disclosed in thecopending application of Ferdinand F. Humphreys, Serial No. 419,097,filed November 14, 1941.

Closure of the contacts 16 of the actuated station, as described above,immediately provides a direct connection between station conductors I4and I5, so as to shunt out the controlling resistor l3, previously incircuit with the controller winding 8. Consequently, when continuedrotation of the code wheel causes the coding contacts ID to reclose asthey pass off a code projection, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, theincreased flow of current through the winding 8, due to shunting out ofthe resistor l3, will cause the main armature 9 to pull in. Theresulting closure of the several sets of contacts 6 and I, also shown indotted lines in Fig. 2, will establish separate energizing circuits forthe signal windings 2, wherein the signal windings are connecteddirectly across the supply mains 3 and 4. Therefore, the first pull inof the armature 9 will result in transmitting the first impulse of thesignal code sequence, and subsequent opening and closing of the contactsID by the code wheel II, will transmit the code of the actuated stationa predetermined number of rounds, through successive opening and closingof controller contacts B and, 1.

As the code wheel ll comes to rest with the contacts [0 closed, totransmit the last impulse of the code sequence, the continued closure ofcontacts l6, as previously described, causes the controller armature 9to remain in, due to continued flow of full energizing current throughthe controller winding 8. With the armature 9 so held in, the upperset'of closed contacts 6 and 1, causes the thermal element 2| of theautomatic interrupter to be connected directly across the mains 3 and 4,as indicated by the solid arrow heads in Fig. 3. The resulting continuedflow of current through the thermal element 2!, as contrasted to thediscontinuous current flow through the element during the transmissionof code impulses, results in heating and expansion of the element afterseveral seconds. The pull of spring 20a on arm 20 thereupon causes theopening of the circuit through the controller winding 8 a the contactsI8, as indicated in dotted lines, whereupon the armature 9 drops out andthe controller contacts 6 and 1 open. The cooling and contraction of thethermal element 2|, which follows its disconnection from across theline, results in reclosure of the contacts l8, thereby reestablishingthe flow of operating current through the controller winding 8. Thesignals are there-- upon operated again, and obviously subsequentdeenergization and reenergization' of the controller winding 8. willcause the signals to be automatically operated on a continuous non-code,although intermittent, basis.

As :a result of continued closure of the contacts l6 after an actuatedstation has run down, the signals will operate indefinitely I undercontrol of the automatic interrupter. In orderto silence the signals andrestore the system to the condition'of supervision shown in Fig. Lit isnecessary to open the contacts l6 by manually turning the arm 29, as bymeans of a station test key, so as to move. the stud 21 on the lever 26to its initial position within the gap 25a. Then, subsequent actuationof the station will cause the contacts [6 to be automatically closed,and to function in the manner previously described.

We claim:

1. In an electric signalling system, the combination with transmittingstations each including contacts normally closed in the non-operatingcondition of the system, and means for repeatedly opening and closingsaid contacts in accordance with a code sequence, upon the actuation ofa station, signals, a device for intermittently transmitting currentimpulses, a controller having a winding normally in circuit with saidstation contacts, signals and impulse device, and energiving circuitsfor said signals and impulse transmitting device, including normallyopen contacts operable by said controller, of switch means at eachstation automatically responsive to operation of a station forenergizing said controller winding and causing its contacts to eitherclose said signal circuits in accordance with the opening and closing ofthe coding contacts of the actuated station, without fully energizingsaid impulse device, or to maintain a circuit for said impulse device,after a station has run down.

2. In an electric signalling system, the combination with transmittingstations each including contacts normally closed in the non-operatingcondition of the system, and means for repeatedly opening and closingsaid contacts in accordance with a code sequence, upon the actuation ofa station, signals, a thermal operator, a controller having a windingnormally in circuit with said station contacts, signals and operator,and energizing circuits for said signals and thermal operator, includingnormally open contacts operable by said controller, of a switch at eachstation, automatically closed in response to operation of an actuatedstation for energizing said controller winding and causing its contactsto close said signal circuits in accordance with the opening and closingof the coding contacts of the actuated station, followed by continuousenergization of said thermal operator after the actuated station has rundown, for a period suflicient to energize said operator and thereaftercause the intermittent energization of said controller winding tooperate said signals without code significance.

3. In an electric signalling system, the combination with transmittingstations each including contacts normally closed in the non-operatingcondition of the system, and means for repeatedly opening and closingsaid contacts in accordance with a code sequence, upon the actuation ofa station, signals, a thermal operator, a controller having a windingnormally in circuit with said station contacts, signals and operator,and energizing circuits for said signals and thermal operator, includingnormally open contacts operable by said controller, of a switch at eachstation automatically closed in response 'to' actuation of a station toenergize said controller winding and cause its contacts to close saidsig nal circuits in accordance with the opening and closing ofthe,coding contacts of the actuated station, without fully energizing saidthermaloperator, said switch means functioning" independently of saidcoding contacts after a station has run down, to fully energize saidthermal operator over predetermined periods, and thereby cause theintermittent energization of said con troller winding to operate saidsignals without code significance.

4. In an electric signalling system, the. combination with transmittingstations each mama: ing contacts normally closed in the non-operatingcondition of the system, and means for repeatedly opening and closingsaid contacts in accordance with a code sequence in response toactuation of a station, signals, a resistance between said stationcontacts and signals, a controller having a winding and a closedsupervisory circuit including said station contacts, signals andresistance, and signal energizing circuits, including normally opencontacts operable by said controller, with the fiow of supervisorycurrent through said controller winding being insufiicient to causeclosure of its contacts, or to operate said signals, of a deviceincluded in said supervisory circuit for intermittently transmittingcurrent impulses, and switch means at each station automaticallyresponsive to operation of an actuated station for removing saidresistance from the supervisory circuit to fully energize saidcontroller winding and cause its contacts to close said signal circuitsin accordance with the code sequence of the actuated station, saidswitch means functioning, in the normally closed position of said codingcontacts, to energize said impulse transmitting device, and therebycause the intermittent energization of said controller winding tooperate said signals Without code significance.

5. In an electric signalling system, the com- I bination withtransmitting stations each including contacts normally closed in thenon-operating condition of the system, and means for repeatedly openingand closing said contacts in accordance with a code sequence in responseto actuation of a station, signals, a resistance between said stationcontacts and signals, a controller having a-winding and a closedsupervisory circuit including said station contacts, signals andresistance, and signal energizing circuits,

including normally open contacts operable by said controller, with theflow of supervisory current through said controller winding beinginsufficient to cause closure of its contacts, or to operate saidsignals, of a device included in said supervisory circuit forintermittently transmitting current impulses, and switch means at eachstation automatically responsive to operation of an actuated station forremoving said resistance from the supervisory circuit to fully energizesaid controller winding and cause its contacts to close said signalcircuits in accordance with the code sequence of the actuated station,without fully energizing said impulse transmitting device,

I said switch means functioning independently of g .6. In an electricsignalling system, the combination with transmitting stations eachincluding-contacts normally closed in the non-operating condition ofthersystem, and means for repeatedly opening and closing said contactsin accordance with a code sequence, upon the actuation, ofsa station,signals, a resistance between said station contacts and signals, acontroller having-a winding normally in circuit with said stationcontacts, signals and resistance, and sig-,

nal energizing circuits includingnormally open contacts operable by saidcontroller, of a device for intermittently transmitting current impulsesnormally in circuit with said winding, station contacts and signals, andswitch means automatically responsive to operation of an actuatedstation for shunting out'said resistance to fully energize saidcontroller, Winding and cause its contacts to close said signal circuitsin accordance with opening and closing of the coding contacts of theactuated station, until after the latterhas run down, said. switch meansthere after functioning during continued closure of said coding contactsto energize said impulse transmitting device, and thereby cause theintermittent energization of said controller winding tofloperate saidsignals without code significance,

7 JOHN. H. WHEELOCK.

HUGO F. CYPSER.

